"Oh, hey you two." Hayner smirked as he walked in with Roxas and Sora.
"Hey." Axel gave a friendly wink.
"So, did you guys just happen to be in the shower at the same time again?" Roxas asked with a with-held giggle.
"What can I say? Prez just has a magnetic pull to him that I can't resist." Axel smirked as he soaped his chest, using his bare hand to rub it in while Riku tried not to look.
"Uh-huh, he sure is a great guy." Sora smiled politely.
"He must be if Axel keeps finding excuses to shower with him." Hayner chuckled.
"Please, as if I started the food fight." Axel scoffed.
"Seifer so would do something like that." Hayner nodded.
"Especially after you kicked his ass Axe." Roxas cheered with a smile.
"I do what I can," Axel shrugged with a cocky grin.
"So, do you guys have any plans for the second dance thing we're supposed to be having?" Hayner asked, not directing his question to anyone in particular.
"Oh yeah, we've been working really hard on it, haven't we Riku?" Sora asked excitedly.
"Yeah, we've been making progress, thanks to Sora's help." Riku said shyly.
"Awww, my sexy baby, getting work done, planning dances and soccer rematches." Roxas gave a bright smile as he held Sora's hips.
"Roxy!" Sora gasped.
"What? I can't help it that you're so irresistible." Roxas nudged his nose into Sora's cheek.
"Roxy," Sora whined before he giggled. "I love you."
"I love you too." Roxas said before he kissed Sora gently.
"Woo! Look at them go." Hayner chuckled.
"Hey! Privacy please?" Roxas asked before he took Sora in his arms, turned to give everyone his back, and kissed Sora again.
"Privacy in a public shower? Yeah, that makes sense." Hayner rolled his eyes.
"Nah, those two really are special." Axel smiled, one that had a sense of yearning jealousy for the love that the twins so proudly had.
"Hear that Sora? We're special!" Roxas cheered.
"Well, I've got to get going, so, see ya!" Hayner saluted his friends before he left.
"Yeah, I should leave as well," Riku coughed.
"Wait, Prez," Axel followed as the silver haired teen tried to escape, leaving the twins alone in the shower.
"Axel, not now." Riku dried himself off as quickly as he could.
"Look, I think you should see someone." Axel whispered as he also dried off in the locker room.
"See who?" Riku hardly paid attention as he clothed himself.
"Like a therapist or something. Prez, you were sexually abused." Axel said quietly. Riku gulped before he shook his head.
"I'm fine."
"Prez quit being prideful and just admit that you're hurting." Axel said stubbornly. "It's ok to hurt." He said softly with a tame smile.
"I, I just need some rest. I'm fine." Riku repeated.
"Are you?" Axel remained persistent. "Please, do yourself a favor and try talking it over with someone." Axel suggested.
"I don't want anyone else to know about it." Riku said, gathering up his things to leave.
"You need to talk about it if you ever want to heal from it." Axel chased after Riku once more.
"If that's really how you feel, if I talk to you about it, will you stop bothering me?" Riku didn't even pause to face the redhead as he continued down a hall.
"Is that what this is? Am I bothering you by caring?" Axel froze in the middle of the hallway as Riku gulped before he sighed.
"I'm sorry." Riku didn't know what else to say.
"I'm worried about you," Axel slowly raised a hand to Riku's cheek. "You're too beautiful and strong to be scarred by such an unfortunate turn of events. Please, allow yourself to heal?" Axel let his hand fall off of Riku's cheek, leaving it cold and yearning for Axel's warmth.
"Ok." Riku swallowed hard, ashamed to say he missed the comforting touch of Axel's palm.
"Good."
"Can we, can we go to your dorm to talk about it? I'd prefer not to have this conversation in the hall." Riku grunted.
"Of course." Axel nodded and led Riku to his dorm.
"So," Riku sat on Axel's bed, not sure what to say or how to say it.
"Just, start from the heart." Axel shrugged.
"Right," Riku sighed, wishing it were that easy.
"Whenever you're ready." Axel got comfortable, realizing that with Riku and his unmatched stubbornness, they could very well be there all night.
"I'm tired." Riku said stoically.
"You're hurt." Axel reminded the silverrete.
"I don't want to deal with it right now." He laid down, feeling Axel lay down next to him.
"Prez, you said you would. If not now, when?" Axel asked, frustrated at Riku's stubbornness.
"I, I don't know," Riku gave the cop-out answer as he rolled over, giving Axel his back.
"Prez, please. You won't heal if you bottle this up." Axel sat up and rubbed Riku's back.
"I don't need to heal." Riku gulped down his obvious lie.
"You're not superman, Prez. No one is perfect. You're human too. Remember that." Axel frowned as he watched Riku huddle up into a ball.
"I can't afford to show weakness." Riku felt a tear coming to his eye.
"Deciding to heal isn't weakness. It's strength, in its most powerful, raw, and vulnerable form." Axel smiled, and Riku could hear it in the redheads voice.
"I, I'm scared." Riku sat up, looking away as he began to consider the healing process that Axel mentioned.
"No matter what, I'll be right here." Axel smiled to show his support.
"I, I don't know where to begin." Riku shrugged pathetically.
"From the heart. How do you really feel?" Axel asked as Riku welcomed his fears.
"I, I guess I'll just start with what's really bugging me." Riku sighed.
"Ok," Axel smiled in encouragement.
"When I got angry, during the dance, it was because I was jealous of Xion." Riku admitted pathetically.
"To be honest, I could tell. I wanted to ensure you that you're the only one my eyes were glued on."
"Then why were you her date? Why did you slow dance with her and eat dinner with her?" Riku asked, confused and lost.
"It's a long story."
"Then start." Riku said, so Axel sighed.
"I, I only went with Xion because Kairi made me." Axel stretched his long legs and leaned his head back against the headboard.
"What do you mean?" Riku asked, granting himself the right to scoot into Axel's lap.
Axel grinned, put his arms gently around Riku, and continued. "Last time I talked to Kairi, she told me that one of her friends likes me, and that I had met her sometime before, although I had honestly forgotten all about her. Anyway, I guess Kairi told Xion a lot about me and Xion really wanted to hang out with me more. When Roxas and Sora asked Kairi if TTLA would like to join our school for the event, Kairi told me that she would only allow the event if I went with Xion. I told her that I didn't want to, and that I already had someone I wanted to go with, which was you. I think by now she knows how I feel about you, I mean, I'm a sucker at hiding how strongly I feel for you." Axel grinned as Riku gave a small smile. "Anyway, Kairi told me that she'd only sign the event off if I went with Xion, which meant that I had to dance with her, eat with her, and spend time with her. So I did. I know how much you had worked on preparing the event before Kairi even signed her permission. I didn't want it to go to waste." Axel shrugged.
"You…you went with Xion to do me a favor?" Riku asked and Axel thought.
"If that's how you want to see it."
"And to think, I thought that you liked her."
"No, it's you who I love." Axel smiled sweetly.
"But, the soccer game! You, you didn't score on purpose? Why not? I mean, I'm still confused by that. You easily could have scored three or even four goals to impress Xion, but you kicked it straight to Olette on purpose. Why?" Riku scratched his head.
"That had nothing to do with Xion."
"It didn't?" Riku asked, and Axel shook his head.
"Nope. I missed, cause I didn't want Kairi to feel bad about losing. She and I aren't as close as I'd like. I know that she looks up to me, and I want her to know that I'm proud of her for being so successful at TTLA. I missed, because I didn't want her to lose by a lot." Axel shrugged.
"But you told the rest of us not to go easy. They weren't an easy opponent." Riku was still confused, so Axel sighed.
"I knew that they'd be tough to play against, but I still felt confident that we'd win. I didn't want it to be obvious that we let them win, or else it'd just make Kairi feel worse."
Riku nodded that he understood.
"I can't believe I hit you after you already took the fall for me." Riku shook his own head in disgrace.
"I'd gladly do so again, Prez." Axel remained calm and respectful as his head swirled.
"Axel," Riku said with longing, "I'm so sorry I misjudged you. And I'm sorry about the concussion, and hitting you right after you saved me." Riku rested his head on Axel's chest.
"You know, at first, I was a bit mad. I, I was so tired of having so much to say and wanting to explain myself, but then I realized that well, everything has its seasons. Just as you have your season for blooming, I have my season for explaining, and I just needed to be patient." Axel shrugged.
"Man, when, when you put it like that, you sound so smart and sophisticated." Riku thought aloud as Axel chuckled.
"Strange, isn't it?" Axel joked along.
"I, I didn't mean it like that," Riku was about to apologize.
"It's alright Prez."
"Axel? Why?" Riku couldn't help but ask, no matter how random it seemed.
"Why what?" Axel didn't understand.
"Why are you so good to me?" Riku asked as he looked away.
"Because you deserve the very best, and I will do whatever it takes to give it to you." Axel shrugged simply.
"All along, I've been afraid of you. You're so popular, so friendly and well liked. You're smart, tall, attractive, and athletic. When I heard that you were running for president, I freaked out. I'm still so nervous, because you're so perfect. And then there's Xion. You could have any girl, or guy, that you want. Anyone. I don't understand why you'd want me." Riku shook his head, hopeless.
"Prez, you have no idea how hard I've worked to impress you. I would have given anything to hear that you felt something even if only in the slightest, for me in return." Axel gazed down at his feet.
Riku looked down into his own lap, trying to make sense of all the feelings that were buzzing around inside his heart. He knew that he felt something for Axel, but it had all gotten so jumbled and hazy from all the stress and confusion. He closed his eyes and imagined the election away. In his mind, it was just him and Axel; just him and that tall, friendly, sexy, sweet, loving redhead.
"A guy can dream, huh?" Axel tried to joke to relieve the tension.
"I've been dying inside. Every time you're near me, I get so nervous and tongue tied and I don't even know what to say or do or think; I hate it."
"I'm sorry." Axel apologized sincerely.
"But, but when you're gone, it's like I'm lost; I'm clueless and helpless and yearning for your company. I, I want you. I want to feel you. My heart burns cause I'm so broken, but when I see you," Riku looked up into smiling emerald eyes. "When I see you, it's like I have a reason to keep believing." Riku gulped. He had just confessed everything that he swore to keep a secret, everything that he didn't want to admit, but felt like he could no longer hide.
Axel smiled as he lowered his head. "I'm honored to hear that, Prez."
Riku looked around Axel's dorm, his heart feeling heavy from all the emotions that he finally allowed to flow through.
"I'm so tired." Riku whined, exhausted and hurt.
"You should sleep." Axel said before Riku nodded. "Goodnight, my beautiful Prez." Axel lifted Riku off his lap and got off the bed when he felt a hand on his wrist.
"P-please, don't leave?" Riku asked, feeling pathetic at such a bothersome request, but after the crap that Seifer pulled, he didn't want to be alone.
"Would you like me to stay?" Axel asked, just to be sure.
Riku nodded. "It is your room." Riku admitted shyly.
"It's whatever you want." Axel smiled, helping Riku get comfortable in bed. "Cozy?" he asked, but Riku shook his head. "What can I do to fix that?" Axel kneeled by the bed to be eye level with Riku.
"Get in?" Riku suggested.
"Riku, you don't have to ask. You are my President, my love, my everything. Tell me to do it and I will. Use that sexy bossy President voice of yours." Axel combed Riku's silky silver hair with a wink.
Riku coughed. "Get in the bed, now." He blushed, feeling silly for giving such a ridiculous command.
"Yes Sir." Axel grinned as he scooted inside the covers, situating himself before Riku huddled up to him.
"Hold me." Riku ordered.
"As you wish," Axel lowered his head with a smile.
"I, I feel bad, for making you seem like you have no choice." Riku confessed as the two got cozy in Axel's bed.
"Prez," Axel took Riku's hand in his. "You are my only choice." Axel said with a shy smile.
"Thank you." Riku didn't know what else to say as Axel put his arms around him and pulled him up to his chest.
"You know, it's really hot, the way you order me around. I like it." Axel rested his chin on Riku's head.
"Me too." Riku sighed in utter exhaustion.
"Go to bed, Prez." Axel rubbed Riku's back.
"Kay." Riku lifted his arms and slid them around Axel's neck as he drifted off to sleep. That sleep didn't last long, because Riku woke up with a scream an hour later.
"Prez!" Axel sat up quickly and brushed the silver strands of hair out of Riku's face. "What? What's wrong?" Axel panicked as Riku reclosed his eyes, gasping in pain. "Say something?" Axel panted in fear.
"I, I don't want to be on my back." Riku opened his eyes, his breathing sporadic with flashbacks and awful memories.
"Come on." Axel pulled Riku to sit up and held him. "Shh, it's ok. I have you. I'll keep you safe." Axel promised, barely able to see with the faint rays of the moon shining through a window.
"My ass hurts." Riku admitted in shame.
"Shh, ok, ok here, I'll, I'll make it better." Axel panicked as he did his best to help without hurting Riku. The redhead sat up against the headboard and placed Riku in his lap, leaning him against his chest so that the president wasn't completely on his rear.
"I don't know why I'm whining." Riku sniffled angrily.
"Because you've been hurt Prez. You've been hurt real bad. I wish I could take it away from you somehow. Believe me, if I could, I would." Axel sighed.
"I can't let this get to me, I have to just ignore it and move on and,"
"Stop." Axel shook his head. "Just because you pretend that a wound is gone, doesn't mean that it stop's existing."
Riku exhaled through his nose. "I just want it all to go away." Riku let his head fall on Axel's shoulder.
"In due time. Until then, stay away from Seifer. God I'd love to kick his ass."
"You already did." Riku huffed.
"Not enough. He deserves so much worse than the grace you showed him. I only stopped because you told me to." Axel said, clearly expressing his disagreement.
"I only told you to stop so that you wouldn't get in trouble!" Riku said defensively.
"Giving him what he deserves would be worth it." Axel mumbled angrily.
"We can't let this get out. If, if the school found out what he did to me, I'd look like a fool."
"We can't hide his actions." Axel said, not wanting to fight, but wanting to be honest.
"I will not allow word of this to get out." Riku said with resolution.
"So you're going to let him get away with what he did?" Axel asked.
"A broken nose and whatever else you did to him is punishment enough."
"And when the faculty go to you asking how he broke it, what are you going to say?" Axel asked, preparing for the inevitable.
"I'll just tell them that he was messing around and it was some accident." Riku shrugged.
"You think they'll fall for it?" Axel asked in disbelief.
"They have to. I can't be made a fool during election."
"Prez, you were a victim." Axel tried to explain.
"I was made weak." Riku corrected Axel.
Axel sighed.
"Seifer will tell someone that I hit him." Axel stated as he closed his eyes.
"I'll make sure that you don't get in trouble."
"That's not within your control."
"I'll, I'll do whatever. Trust me, you won't be punished." Riku tried to think of his options to save Axel from the consequences of his actions.
"You don't have that kind of authority." Axel repeated.
"Yes I do! You'll be fine." Riku said hopefully.
Axel sighed again as he shook his head in the dark.
"I already thought about it. I'm, I'm going to drop the race." Axel gulped.
"No!" Riku refused to accept the idea. If it were a month or two prior, Riku would have rejoiced at such news, but now, Riku couldn't imagine Axel quitting.
"It's fine Prez. I'm going to give my withdrawal speech, and I'll just say that you're too intimidating to run against, which isn't a complete lie."
"Axel, don't." Riku begged as he clutched Axel's white cotton sleep shirt.
"Why not? I thought you hated how I'm running for president?" Axel kept an arm around Riku and placed his other over Riku's hands which were still on his shirt.
"I just, I don't want you to drop out." Riku couldn't even explain his reasoning.
"It's fine. I only ran because, because I wanted you to notice me." Axel admitted shyly.
"What?" Riku asked, shocked.
"Think about it Prez. We've been teammates, classmates, and co-captains for years now, but we hardly ever talked. Ever since I started running, we've been talking more, and even if it's you yelling at me, at least you're noticing me." Axel smiled poorly.
Riku closed his eyes. How blind could he have been? He knew all along that Axel was an attention-magnet, but he never realized that he was the target.
"You can't drop out."
"When Seifer rats my ass out, they won't let me run. At least this way I drop with as much dignity as I can."
"Axel, I, I can cover it. I'm president. I'll make it so that you go invisible. I'll void your case and I'll make it impossible for anyone to figure out what happened." Riku started listing all his possible options.
"Prez, you can't cover something this big, it wouldn't look good. Don't worry about me. I'm a big boy. I can take care of myself."
"I'm a big boy too, but I still needed your help." Riku admitted.
"Yeah, but by helping you, I'm helping me. Just, just relax. I'll handle it, alright?" Axel asked as Riku sighed, discontent.
"Don't drop out." Riku ordered.
"Prez," Axel sighed.
"I said no. You can't, you hear me?" Riku commanded.
"Alright." Axel smiled as he tried to stay awake.
"I just want all of this to be over." Riku snuggled up to Axel's shoulder.
"Soon enough." Axel lowered his body down against the headboard as Riku remained in his lap. "Go back to bed, you need sleep."
"I, I can't." Riku confessed.
"Yes you can. I'm right here. I got you." Axel bent his legs as Riku slid down in his lap to lay down.
"Thank you Axel." Riku used Axel's thigh as a pillow as he held onto it for safety.
"You are most welcome, my Prez. Goodnight." Axel rubbed Riku's back as Riku fell back asleep, waking up just a few hours later.
"Axel? What time is it?" Riku sat up, leaning on Axel's chest as it expanded for breath.
"It's three in the morning. How do you feel?" Axel asked, snaking his fingers in Riku's hair.
"Better." Riku put an arm around Axel's neck as he sighed, his body and mind still tired.
"Good." Axel yawned.
"You ok?" Riku looked up into Axel's eyes.
"Tired." Axel closed his eyes.
"How did you sleep?" Riku asked, feeling like he robbed Axel of a decent nights rest by asking him to stay the night.
"I didn't."
"Why not?" Riku felt guilty.
"I wanted to stay awake, to watch over you." Axel kissed the top of Riku's head.
"Axel," Riku sighed.
"I love you too much to let anything harm you again." Axel stated earnestly.
"Axel, sleep, now."
"I'm fine, I," Axel began, but Riku interrupted him.
"I am ordering you to lie back down, hold me, and sleep." Riku glared in Axel's eyes, causing the redhead to smile.
"As you wish." Axel went on his back and welcomed Riku onto his chest as he held onto his president.
"Goodnight Axel." Riku rubbed his cheek into Axel's shirt.
"Goodnight, my wonderful Prez." Axel squeezed Riku.
The redhead entered a deep sleep that his concussion welcomed, before Riku accidentally kicked him awake several hours later.
"Sorry!" Riku was quick to apologize.
"It's ok." Axel responded.
"How did you sleep?" Riku asked as Axel sat up by the silverrete.
"Great." Axel faked a smile through his weary body.
"Axel, you're hurt." Riku saw past Axel's attempt to hide his pain.
"My head," Axel winced as he put a hand to his temple.
"You shouldn't have used so much force to beat up Seifer, you're still healing." Riku rested his head on Axel's shoulder.
"I wasn't thinking, I just, I was so angry; I still am." Axel grumbled.
"Just try to heal, please?" Riku kissed Axel's crème neck as the redhead gulped.
"As you wish, my Prez." Axel said nervously
"Axel?" Riku closed his eyes.
"Yes?" Axel asked with concern.
"I, I really enjoy lying here, with you." Riku's cheeks turned red as he gulped.
"Me too. Nice and snuggly." Axel chuckled.
"Axel?" Riku couldn't explain the neediness behind his emotions.
"M?" Axel wondered where the conversation was going.
"Thank you, for everything." Riku let his fingers dance over one of Axel's nipple's teasingly.
Axel inhaled deep, trying to restrain his love for Riku so as not to make him feel uncomfortable. "You're welcome,"
"Axel?" Riku asked yet again, so Axel chuckled to himself.
"You don't have to say my name each time you have something to say, although I do find it cute." Axel let his fingers dance in Riku's hair.
"Oh, um, never mind." Riku got too distracted by Axel's response and decided to let his nerves win.
"No, please, tell me." Axel took another deep breath, pushing Riku's body up before it crashed as Axel exhaled.
"I, I forgot." Riku lied.
Axel saw right through it, as usual, so he sat up with Riku still in his lap. "Please? Tell me," Axel looked deeply into Riku's aquamarine eyes.
"I, I'm so glad you saved me, even after I said horrible things to you." Riku wrapped his arms around Axle's neck, feeding off of the redheads warmth and comfort. Axel took another deep, loud breath through his nose.
"I'm sorry I said disrespectful things to you. I was just, frustrated."
"I'm sorry." Riku apologized.
"I mean, it was hard enough to know that you didn't trust me enough to tell me the truth, but then you gave the excuse of being lonely. It, it made me angry to think that I'd do anything to keep you from being alone, yet even in your lie, it's like I still wasn't good enough. I know it sounds silly, but I got jealous."
"It's not silly, and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said such things. It's not that I didn't trust you, I just, I wanted to take care of it myself."
"Who says you have to do it on your own?" Axel chuckled.
"Good point," Riku sighed in annoyance at himself.
"You're so cute Prez. Just make sure not to overwork yourself, ok? You worry me." Axel rubbed Riku's back before he laid back down.
"Axel?"
"Yes?" Axel laughed at how Riku insisted on addressing him.
"Thank you for caring about me." Riku rested once again on Axel's pectoral.
"I always will." Axel whispered as he put his arms cautiously around Riku.
"Thank you." Riku repeated, getting emotional from all of the memories and pain.
"Shh, it's ok." Axel could hear the sorrow in Riku's voice.
"I'm sorry," Riku broke down, his eyes leaking as he panted uneasy gasps. Axel held him tightly, almost fearing that he was holding him too tightly as he tried to comfort him.
"You don't need to apologize. It's fine." Axel sat up once more, rocking back and forth.
"My head hurts. I hate crying." Riku sniffled.
"Yeah, me too," Axel cleared his throat, causing Riku to pull back to check.
"Why, why are you crying?" Riku didn't understand.
"How, how else am I supposed to feel when I see you hurting?" Axel asked, his eyes silently leaking as his voice went uninterrupted by his true sadness.
"I'm sorry." Riku once again apologized.
"It's not your fault," Axel brought Riku's head to his chest, and held it there. The two were quiet for a few minutes, silently shedding small tears as Axel's deep breath's guided Riku's. The two fell back asleep, or at least Riku thought so.
When the silverrete awoke, he panicked to see that he was all alone.
"Axel?" Riku sat up slowly using his elbows, his backside in more pain than he remembered being in the day before.
"Axel!" Riku shouted impatiently. He couldn't ignore the twisted feeling in his gut that he recognized to be anger, fear, and a sense of worrying greater than he had ever known to be possible. He wanted Axel there by his side, as the redhead promised. He didn't care where the redhead was or for what reasons; all he knew was that he belonged at his side, watching over him.
Riku wanted to get out of bed and hunt the redhead down, but his body was in too bad a condition to sit up fully. After fifteen minutes of worrying and wondering, Axel quietly entered his own dorm.
"Oh, you're up. Good morning." Axel locked his door behind him.
"Where did you go?" Riku began his interrogation.
"Out," Axel remained short.
"Axel," Riku demanded an explanation.
"Dont worry about it," Axel sighed, but it wasn't enough for the angered president.
"Axel tell me right now where you went. No lying."
"I, I went to Seifer's dorm," Axel confessed as he hung his head.
"You what?!" Riku rushed a hand to his head.
"I wanted to, you know, deal with what happened, but don't worry, he wasn't there." Axel muttered miserably. "I think he's with Rai, and I was on my way to his dorm when I figured I should check up on you." Axel shrugged.
"No, what you should have done was stay in bed." Riku growled.
"I'm sorry that you're unhappy, but I'm not sorry that I went looking for Seifer. I will find him, it's not like he can hide forever." Axel said simply.
"What do you intend on doing once you find him? You've already done enough haven't you?" Riku asked timidly, wondering if he really wanted to know.
"No, I'm going to show him just how much munny my family has, to pay off murder charges." Axel didn't even smile, revealing no hint at sarcasm in the slightest.
"Axel," Riku barked.
"Prez I'm serious. I'm going to beat his ass." Axel took a sip of his water bottle before he sat down on his
bed at Riku's side.
"No, you're not." Riku didn't want to have that discussion, not then, not ever.
"Yes, I am. I'm going to give him another black eye, smash his nose in, break a rib or two, dislocate a shoulder, make his knees buckle, crush his chest cavity inward, and watch him puke blood as he pisses in fear." Axel narrowed his eyes in on his thumbs as he held his hands in front of his face, focusing on his rage and channeling his aggression the most satisfying way he could.
"Don't say such things. You won't do any of that, do you understand?" Riku wanted to be clear.
"If you don't want me to say it, I won't. I'm still going to do it, and more." Axel shrugged indifferently.
"You don't even get it!" Riku pounded the bed angrily.
"Prez, relax."
"How can I?" I just had the worst week of my life and you promised to stay by me to protect me, and I woke up and, and, and you were gone." Riku couldn't even look at Axel in his shame for being so pathetically needy. "You left me," Riku felt a silent tear fall down his face.
"Oh Prez, I, I'm so sorry." Axel tried to hug Riku, but Riku pushed him away.
"You would rather hunt down Seifer than hold me like you promised you would. I felt so scared." Riku put a hand to his chest, hating every word as he spoke, but unable to control them.
"Let me make it up to you," Axel reached for Riku once again, but was denied.
"No, it's too late!" Riku yelled, his past interfering with his present, destroying all his previous hard work to keep the two separate.
"Prez?" Axel asked, hurt.
"I, I called for you, but you never came." Riku's eyes swelled up as did his throat.
"What?" Axel asked in confusion.
"I called for you. I screamed your name. But you weren't there." Riku looked down as he whispered.
"Prez, I, I hurried. I did my best. I'm sorry if I showed up late, but,"
"You were too late!" Riku repeated, much louder.
"I'm sorry." Axel could hardly handle the guilt inside him. "I begged you not to return to Seifer,"
"This isn't about what just happened!" Riku screamed, his emotions acting like water stored up in a dam that had been slowly breaking and now, after all of the many cracks had added up, he was ready to break.
"Oh god," Axel finally understood. He knew; Riku was referring to the past. "Prez if there was anything I could do to change things,"
"You can't!" Riku's anger pushed him to a new level of regret.
"I, I'm sorry." Axel said hopelessly. "I couldn't save you then, when we were kids. I'm doing all I can to save you now." Axel looked into Riku's doubting eyes.
"You never came," Riku shook his head.
"Yes I did!" Axel argued.
"When it was too late!" Riku stood up.
"Prez, please," Axel begged as he stood up as well.
"I can't talk about this anymore." Riku shook his head. The idea of Axel beating up Seifer only bothered him because it forced the silverrete to acknowledge everything that had happened. The longer Axel kept the issue alive, the longer Riku would have to own up to his embarrassing mistake of making that dreadful deal with Seifer.
"What would you like to talk about?" Axel asked, trying to help the president become more comfortable.
"Doesn't matter, I'm leaving." Riku slowly headed for the door.
"Prez, wait," Axel stood up and put his hands on Riku's shoulders. "You're still hurting. I think you should get back in bed so I can get you some ice for your lower back," Axel said with a genuine concern in his eyes.
"If you won't take my advice about leaving Seifer alone, then I won't take yours." Riku pushed Axel away as best as his weak body would let him.
"Prez don't be so immature. Besides, you weren't giving me advice; you were trying to order me around."
"I am the President." Riku said clearly as he aimed for Axel's door.
"Yeah, and you're just as hurt as you are stubborn." Axel folded his arms.
Riku wanted to express the rude thoughts in his mind, but he still owed Axel for saving him, so he sighed away his aggravation and swallowed down some humility.
"Thank you for saving me, and for caring for me even though I tried to deceive you at practice. I'll thank you kindly not to disturb me for the rest of the day," Riku opened Axel's door.
"Prez, wait, I'm sorry." Axel apologized. "I should be more sensitive, and it's wrong for me to envision something as ugly as revenge, no matter how badly I want it." Axel tried to remain sympathetic.
"It's fine," Riku looked at the floor, still in too much pain to argue, although that was also due to his lack of emotions and caring.
"You should lay down, at least in your bed." Axel gave a small smile.
"We have practice soon." Riku said, as if to say no.
"I'll run practice today." Axel tried to compromise, but Riku shook his head.
"As captain, I wont miss practice."
"You really are so fucking stubborn and prideful." Axel sighed as he put a hand to his head.
"You're really so fucking annoying." Riku unleashed his bitterness towards Seifer by taking it out on Axel.
Axel looked up, slowly into Riku's eyes, and even as he shook his head, he smiled.
"Gee, thanks." Axel scoffed.
"Just shut up," Riku whispered.
"Just try to heal." Axel rolled his eyes.
"I'm not broken." Riku said before he left Axel's dorm.
Riku returned to his dorm, unable to explain just how scared he really was. What the hell did he just say to Axel? After all that the redhead had done for him, why did Riku snap? Riku knew it was all aimed at Seifer, but still, for him to take it out on Axel was more than unfair. Axel never had to save him a first time, but to do so a second time even after expressing that he wasn't going to support Riku's stupidity….it just made Riku feel more like an ass.
And then he had to go and bring their past up. That's right. For years, Riku had worked harder than ever to forget the crush he once had on said redhead. No, it was more than a crush. There was a time when Riku couldn't imagine his lonely life without the friendly redhead. And now, now with all the pain and the flashbacks, the memories of their innocent childhood bond were returning.
In the midst of his private thoughts, Riku felt his eyes water. No; he couldn't cry. It wasn't an option. Even though he was alone in his dorm, he couldn't allow himself to submit to such weakness. Riku sniffled the tears further back in his throat as he quickly changed into his work-out clothes and stretched in his dorm, trying to adjust his body to the rigorous practice ahead.
Author's Note: This chapter is pretty long cause I felt like it all just belonged in one giant section. Don't worry, things will get better soon =) Anyway, about having disappeared for a while, I'm taking a five hour Japanese class that means every single week day, plus another class for my major, so I've been super busy and will continue to be for the next few months. I will try to update as often, as usual, and don't forget to check out my other stories! A Taste of Loneliness is taking new turns, and Always Getting Involved is making progress!
To Keyblade Master13: Haha, you aren't the only one who wished for Axel to beat up Seifer, so don't worry lol. Thanks for the review, and for the love hehe!
To LovedLikeALoveSong: Yeah, I can understand about the lack in a clear transition, and I was hoping to get across the craziness of the emotional turbulence that Riku was experiencing from all the ups and downs he was facing. Haha, it seemed at one point in this chapter that Riku was about to admit his feelings, but then of course, he ruins it. No, I haven't seen Clueless, so I'm curious as to what you are referencing haha. Oh, well I hope you can read those stories too, cause I put a lot of work into them and they are very close to me. Aww, thanks in advance for the A haha.
To lostdesitny21: Aww, that is great to hear! Glad to know you enjoy this story!
To Nowa-Hikari: Haha, yes, I think Seifer has learned his lesson lol. Yes, I enjoyed writing the food fight scene, so I'm glad that you liked it too. Yes, I bet Axel is really looking forward to the love confession from Riku, if it exists lol.
To luckycat222: Hehe, Axel thanks you for the star you gave him lol. I'm glad that you liked the ending, thank you so much for your reviews.
To xSonya: Axel is adorable, isn't he? Yes, about time Riku got with the program lol. I wouldn't put it past Axel to pull that kind of stunt with Riku, pretending there was something on his face as an exuse to lick it off lol. Thank you for the review, and thank you for all your support! I hope you enjoyed the review from ATofLoneliness (I already read your review for it) but thanks for expressing your support for that story, even through a different story, it makes me feel special hehe. Thank you!
Thank you everyone for all the follows, favs, and reviews!
Living Legacy, Sarabellum